Written Answers Tuesday 3 November 2009

Scottish Executive

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many violent incidents took place in the Lothians region in (a) private domestic settings and (b) public open spaces in each of the last 10 years.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

  The police recorded crime statistics collected centrally are based on an aggregate return from each of the eight police forces in Scotland. The aggregate crime figures held by the Scottish Government do not provide any data on where the crime took place.

  The available data on the number of non-sexual crimes of violence recorded in each of the local authorities in the Lothians parliamentary region for the last 10 years is shown in the following table:

  Non-Sexual Crimes of Violence Recorded in the Lothians Region, 1999-2000 to 2008-09

  

 
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


City of Edinburgh
1,830
1,765
1,624
1,888
1,704
1,468
1,342
1,418
1,325
1,329


East Lothian
179
167
133
140
158
122
92
153
144
104


Midlothian
209
173
126
163
166
161
151
127
139
117


West Lothian
313
327
330
330
376
382
335
292
282
285


Total Lothians 
2,531
2,432
2,213
2,521
2,404
2,133
1,920
1,990
1,890
1,835



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  The Scottish Government is working with the Violence Reduction Unit to address the particular challenges associated with tackling violence in domestic settings, violence which often takes the form of domestic abuse. For example, following the successful pilot of the Caledonian System in Edinburgh, a comprehensive approach to helping the victims of domestic abuse and reducing re-offending, we are investing £2.4 million in rolling out the project in the rest of Scotland.

Dentistry

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training in the manufacture and fitting of dentures is available to NHS employees.

Shona Robison: The General Dental Council (GDC) determines the appropriate UK standard of proficiency required for a person to practise competently and safely, and also the content and standard of the education and training (including practical experience) it considers is necessary for imparting the knowledge and skills required for individuals to obtain that proficiency.

  Presently there are two GDC approved courses available to NHS employees wishing to manufacture and fit dentures. The Edinburgh Dental Institute (EDI) offers a 37-week full-time course and Kent, Surrey and Sussex Deanery (KSSD) offer a two-year distance learning programme.

  Those who successfully complete GDC approved educational and training requirements which qualify them to manufacture and/or fit dentures, including those who become NHS employees, are expected to maintain their skills and knowledge as necessary through continuing professional development.

  Further information is available from the GDC website http://www.gdc-uk.org/.

Dentistry

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role denturists have in the NHS.

Shona Robison: In the UK, the role of denturists is now recognised as a "clinical dental technician", who may make and fit dentures.

  Clinical dental technicians may be directly employed by NHSScotland boards to make and fit dentures, or work to a dentist in a general dental practice providing an NHS service, under general dental service arrangements.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the review of the Fresh Talent Initiative carried out in 2008.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the review of the Fresh Talent Initiative with regard to the employment prospects of graduates.

Michael Russell: The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme: an evidence review published in September 2008, was a research paper which provided an evaluation of the scheme to inform policy development, but did not make specific recommendations.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to address the concerns of the 48% of graduates responding to the review of the Fresh Talent Initiative who did not consider that their employment was appropriate to their level of educational qualifications.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government and its agencies provide support to international graduates through our Relocation Advisory Service, Talent Scotland and Graduates for Business. In addition, the Strategic Investment Fund supports post-graduate employment of international students in Scotland, in line with the objectives of the government’s International Framework.

  The current economic downturn is affecting labour markets across the globe, but Scotland’s employment continues to be higher than the UK, and there continues to be a significant number of job opportunities across the country. Additionally, our Economic Recovery Plan is supporting up to 15,000 jobs across Scotland and, going forward, our actions have the potential to create thousands more jobs over the long term.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines will be available by 1 October 2009.

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the capacity is for the provision of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for (a) adults and (b) children.

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines there are, broken down by NHS board area.

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds there are for patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, broken down by NHS board.

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines there are in Scotland; where they are located; whether it is satisfied that this is a sufficient quantity in view of the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, and, if not, how many more machines it proposes to gain access to; by when, and by what method.

Nicola Sturgeon: In Scotland, there is currently one adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and two in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

  As respiratory ECMO for adults is a rare and highly specialised procedure, it is available for Scottish patients through the UK ECMO centre at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, which comprises a dedicated unit of highly trained and experienced staff with the range of skills required to deliver treatment. Given the recent increase in demand for ECMO as a result of the pandemic, UK health ministers have agreed to double ECMO facilities at Glenfield hospital to 10 beds, following recommendations from the UK Critical Care Clinical Group.

  Additional short-term capacity has also been commissioned at the Royal Brompton and Papworth Hospitals in England which can provide another four beds.

  Scottish adult patients can also receive treatment at the designated European ECMO centre in Stockholm where there are two beds.

  In Scotland, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is the only site with both adult ECMO machines and a clinical team trained by Leicester to provide respiratory ECMO. ECMO can be provided in Aberdeen if additional capacity is required, but only with the agreement and ongoing support and advice of Leicester clinicians.

  The one respiratory ECMO machine at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is used primarily for cardiac use. There is not a trained specialist team for adult respiratory ECMO in Edinburgh.

  In addition to these adult machines, there are also five paediatric/neonatal ECMO machines at Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27590 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 September 2009, whether the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry will be held in Dumbarton or the Vale of Leven and what its reasons are for its position on this matter.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is for the Chair of the Inquiry, Lord MacLean, to decide on an appropriate venue for the public hearings and evidence sessions. Lord MacLean met the Vale of Leven families on 25 September and this was one of the issues discussed. I understand no final decision has yet been made.

  Once a suitable venue has been chosen, the decision will be posted on the Inquiry’s website. The website can be accessed at www.valeoflevenhospitalinquiry.org.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22315 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 April 2009, what action is being taken to promote self-referral to physiotherapy services in each NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is committed to promoting self-referral to physiotherapy in all NHS board areas in NHS Scotland. Self-referral is now available in areas within all mainland boards, as well as NHS Orkney and NHS Western Isles.

  The Scottish Government is also supporting self-referral to physiotherapy using NHS 24 technology. This system is currently being piloted in NHS Lothian with a view to rolling this out nationally and is subject to independent evaluation.

Health

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage men to seek medical attention when necessary, in light of the relevant article in Scotland on Sunday on 4 October 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Well Men Services initiative ran from 2004-06, when the policy was superseded by the more targeted Keep Well Anticipatory Care Programme.

  The Scottish Government is now providing a range of health and supporting services which are particularly sensitive to men’s health needs. Keep Well is targeted at 45 to 64-year-olds (both men and women) in the 15% most deprived communities in Scotland. The programme aims to engage individuals who do not take full advantage of the health care services available to them. Patients who attend a Keep Well health check are assessed for their risk of current and future ill health. Those found to be at risk are referred to supporting services including weight management, smoking cessation and brief alcohol interventions or prescribed medication.

  Other funded services sensitive to men’s health needs include NHS24, Breathing Space and Men’s Health Forum Scotland.

Health

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether extra funding will be allocated to the well men initiative, in light of evidence that a significant number of men continue to show reluctance to seek medical attention.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Well Men Services initiative ran from 2004-06 when the policy was superseded by the more targeted Keep Well Anticipatory Care Programme. £33 million is available to Keep Well over a three year period (2008-11) and a proportion of this budget encourages men to use the health care services available to them.

Health

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the well men initiative is subject to continuous evaluation and, if so, where such evaluation is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Well Men Services initiative ran from 2004-06 and the policy was superseded by the more targeted Keep Well Anticipatory Care Programme. A link to the Well Men Health Service Pilots Evaluation is attached here www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/04/01091641/0 .

Health

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether and, if so, how well the well men initiative is operating in the NHS Lanarkshire area.

Nicola Sturgeon: Well men initiatives previously funded by the Scottish Executive are no longer operating in the NHS Lanarkshire area. However, Keep Well and other funded services sensitive to men’s health needs are available to people in the area. Seven thousand, six hundred and eighty three Keep Well health checks on men have been carried out since October 2006 in the NHS Lanarkshire area.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures confidentiality of patient records.

Nicola Sturgeon: Personal health information is protected by the Data Protection Act and the common law duty of confidentiality.

  It is the responsibility of NHS board chief executives to ensure the confidentiality of patients records within their respective NHS board. The Scottish Government supports the execution of this duty through production of guidance and through initiatives such as the NHS Code of Practice on Protecting Patient Confidentiality and the Information Security Policy.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued regarding the sharing of patient information and whether a patient or a patient’s representative requires to give consent to information being shared.

Nicola Sturgeon: In July 2003, the Scottish Government published the NHS Code of Practice on Protecting Patient Confidentiality , which sets out when to obtain consent from patients regarding the disclosure of their information.

  When information is shared within the NHS, the legal position is that the patient’s implied consent is all that is required. Nevertheless, the wishes of the patient will always be listened to and discussed. The disclosure of information outwith the NHS e.g. to care homes, usually requires permission from a patient or their representatives except where disclosure is required by law or there is an overriding public interest.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to GPs regarding the sharing of patient information with care home staff and whether written consent to information being shared is required from the patient or the patient’s representative.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has not published specific guidance for GPs on sharing information with non-NHS staff, as they are expected to use their own judgement about what information is shared with care home staff, in line with the General Medical Council’s guidance for doctors on confidentiality. Written consent is not required to share information between the GP and care home staff.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether hospital staff are entitled to share information with care home staff where the patient or resident has previously indicated that the primary point of contact should be the patient or resident, or the patient’s or resident’s representative.

Nicola Sturgeon: Hospital staff wherever possible should respect the wishes of any patient who objects to particular information being shared within the health care team or with others providing care. However, there are limited circumstances e.g. legal requirement, in the interest of the public or vulnerable individuals who are unable to consent where staff may disclose information without consulting the patient first.

Justice

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been under the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009, in relation to (a) disability, (b) sexual orientation and (c) transgender identity.

Kenny MacAskill: The Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009 received Royal Assent on 8 July 2009, but the provisions of the act have not yet been commenced. The Crown Office and other criminal justice agencies are currently preparing guidance and updating their IT systems in anticipation of commencement early in 2010.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether automatic number plate recognition cameras are used in Scotland to monitor vehicles associated with protesters and, if so, how many such cameras there are.

Kenny MacAskill: It is for the police to determine what vehicles are monitored by the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera system. The decision to use ANPR cameras to monitor vehicle movements is made on an individual basis and is relative to the level of interest or threat presented by the likely occupants of the vehicle.

  Information on the numbers of ANPR cameras in Scotland is not held by the government.

Licensing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a premises or personal licence to sell alcohol that has been revoked under a provision in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 can be reallocated to the same premises or person and, if so, after how long.

Kenny MacAskill: A premises licence or personal licence once revoked cannot be reallocated. Following revocation, a new application may be made to the licensing board but there is no guarantee that it will be granted. Section 74 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides that a board must refuse an application for a personal licence where the applicant previously held a licence that had been revoked with the last five years.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many junior doctors or full-time equivalents have been required to fill European working time directive rotas in each NHS board since 1 August 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally. NHS boards as individual employers have an obligation under the Working Time Regulations 1998 to ensure that all junior doctors are compliant with the 48 hour average working week that came into force on 1 August 2009. Compliant rotas may also contain numbers of locums and trained doctors alongside junior doctors therefore making a figure for junior doctors alone not necessarily helpful to disaggregate.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many junior doctors or full-time equivalents were employed by the NHS on 1 August 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on junior doctors as at 1 August 2009 is not centrally available. NHS Scotland staff in post information is collected annually through a census as at 30 September. The relevant figures for 2008 are shown in the following table:

  

Doctors in Training1
30 September 2008


Head Count 
5,987


Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE) 
5,833.9



  Source: Information services Division (ISD) Scotland.

  Note: 1. Doctors in training include the following: specialist registrars, staff on specialty training and fixed-term specialty training grades, foundation programme grades, house officers, senior house officers, dental officers and senior dental officers and GP trainees.

  Information as at 30 September 2009 will be published on 15 December 2009

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many junior doctor posts or full-time equivalents were available on 5 August 2009, broken down by NHS board, and how many of these were not filled.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on junior doctors as at 5 August 2009 is not centrally available. However, for the number of junior posts or full-time equivalents as at 30 September 2008, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28102 on 3 November 2009. All the answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  Information as at 30 September 2009 will be published on 15 December 2009.

  Information on junior doctor vacancies is not held centrally.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the comments of John Speed of the Prison Officers Association to the Justice Committee on 6 October 2009 concerning a reduction in frontline prison staff that he stated has a massive impact on the health and safety of prison officers; whether it intends to take action and, if so, what action ( Official Report c. 2285).

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The written evidence subsequently sent to the committee by Mr Speed on 19 October 2009, clarified that the concerns referred to by Mr Speed in his oral evidence related to future staffing levels and confirmed that current staffing levels have been agreed between SPS and its recognised trade unions. Any requirement for further reductions in staffing will be discussed between SPS and the recognised trade unions, and will be subject to rigorous health and safety risk assessments conducted by local management and trade union representatives.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact that (a) overcrowding and (b) reduced prison officer numbers is having on the safety of prison officers.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  Current staffing levels have been agreed with local trade union partners and there are a number of protocols and contingencies in place to allow for increases in prisoner numbers and unforeseen staffing problems. The health and safety of SPS staff is paramount and staffing levels are subject to rigorous health and safety risk assessments conducted by local management and trade union representatives.

Student Accommodation

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to help house students eligible for university-provided student accommodation who have been refused a place due to overcrowding.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-08248 on 29 October, which is available on the Parliament’s website and can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1029-02.htm#Col20691.